Even someone as lowly as William Clark knows that the more you hit someone, the more you need to act affectionate toward the person you hit. So, for Wu Zetian—who was ruthless yet possessed boundless political wisdom—the only way to crush the rumors was to let the world know how much she doted on this son, to an extreme degree. If the Empress loved the Crown Prince so much, how could she possibly harm him?

This is a very simple logic.

So... this plaque would be of great use. If at this moment, Brian Carter were to hang the plaque outside, in this Luoyang city already abuzz with rumors and the sudden death of the Crown Prince, it would surely spark a new round of discussion. If the Empress learned of this, what would happen?

The first possibility is that she would reward Ruchun Restaurant, because the Crown Prince loved the food here. Out of love for her son, as a doting mother, she would naturally bestow generous rewards. Others would see this and think, oh, the restaurant the Crown Prince liked, even His Majesty values it so much—clearly, His Majesty loves the Crown Prince.

Another possibility is that, in order to completely crush the rumors, the Empress might even come here in person to mourn the late Crown Prince. All she would need to do is sit here, just like the Crown Prince once did, look at the words he wrote by hand, and eat the dishes he once enjoyed. That alone would be enough to show the Empress’s motherly love for her own flesh and blood.

So what about Ruchun Restaurant...

Brian Carter, with tears streaming down his face, was about to make it big. This was Wu Zetian! As long as she came here and tasted his dishes, if his food pleased her, then... success and fortune would be right in front of him.

To put it plainly, the plaque was just a tool to attract attention. Hanging it outside would turn it into a political show to crush the rumors of the treacherous faction. The star was Wu Zetian, Ruchun Restaurant was the stage, and as for himself, even if he was just a nobody, it didn’t matter. In such a grand performance, even if he was just an extra, Brian Carter would be satisfied.

He was a petty man—no, he was just a tiny ant at the very bottom of this empire. Lofty ideals, healing the world—those were far too distant for him. All he could do was pick up the scraps that fell from the fingers of the powerful, and that would be enough to guarantee himself wealth and comfort, to live as a shameful playboy. But... even if it was shameful, Brian Carter quite enjoyed it.

Besides, to win a woman’s heart, you must first win her stomach. With his culinary skills, if he put in some effort and let Wu Zetian taste the delicacies of Ruchun Restaurant, maybe...

Brian Carter's eyes were already sparkling.

He couldn’t care less about William Clark. Was this rascal so tough? Just wait until I get promoted and rich, then I’ll show you what’s what.

“David Carter, David Carter... Quick, find the plaque, give it a good wipe, and hang it up—right on the front! Wealth and glory are right in front of us, haha...”

A plaque was already hanging above the entrance of Ruchun Restaurant. Brian Carter stood beneath it, filled with emotion. It was as if, with this royal calligraphy, the entire Ruchun Restaurant had suddenly become radiant.

But that guy William Clark still refused to leave, still licking his plate, ruining the mood. Brian Carter shook his head, forcing himself to ignore the guy’s disgusting eating habits.

These past few days, business still hadn’t improved, which was only natural—three feet of ice isn’t formed in a single day. Brian Carter wasn’t worried. As for the plaque outside, Brian Carter wasn’t concerned about the palace being kept in the dark. He was an educated man, after all, and knew that when Wu Zetian ascended the throne, she spread her spies all over Luoyang to consolidate her rule. Surely, it wouldn’t be long before a spy reported the news to the palace.

People from the The Sullivan Family came in a rage, and this time it was that manager John Foster again. He was furious. Originally, the The Sullivan Family had obtained the plaque in hopes of attracting the Empress, so that the master of the The Sullivan Family could cook for her himself and show off his unique skills. If he could win the Empress’s favor, and perhaps even be summoned to the imperial kitchen as a chef, the The Sullivan Family would reap great benefits. Now that Brian Carter had hung the plaque, it naturally caught John Foster's attention. He stormed in, fuming, and immediately berated, “You, Qin! Now that you’ve hung the plaque, it’s useless to us. Pay back the silver you owe us at once, or you’ll be sorry. We’re going to the authorities right now.”

Brian Carter looked at him calmly and said, “The plaque is mine. I’ll hang it if I want. What’s it got to do with you?”

“You, you...” John Foster was furious. He had brought two strong men with him, and now, brimming with hostility, they were ready to start a fight.

But at that moment, someone slammed the table with a bang—it was William Clark, the freeloader.

William Clark squinted his eyes and shouted, “Who dares make trouble here? Tired of living? This is where I eat for free. If you hurt Young Master Carter, who will feed me? Get out now, or it’s a fight to the death.”

John Foster saw how imposing William Clark was and was frightened. He couldn’t help but ask, “Who are you?”

“Surname Deng, given name Jian.”

One of the men behind him quickly stepped forward and whispered something in John Foster's ear. John Foster's face turned red and green, and in the end, he glared at Brian Carter unwillingly. “We’ll see about this.”